Tape cassette and cassette holder

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a tape cassette which is loaded in a tape drive apparatus by a manner of inserting the tape cassette in a cassette holder and then moving the cassette holder relative to a main chassis of the tape drive apparatus. The tape cassette includes a mouth portion provided in a front portion of a cassette shell in such a manner as to be opened forward, upward, and downward. Part of a magnetic tape (tape-like recording medium) is positioned to cross the front end of the mouth portion. The tape cassette also includes a front lid for covering the front side of the magnetic tape. The front lid is opened when the tape cassette is inserted in the cassette holder. This tape cassette is characterized by including two side butting portions and two upper butting portions which are brought into contact with two side receiving portions and two upper receiving portions of the cassette holder when the tape cassette is inserted in the cassette holder. With this configuration, it is possible to ensure the positioning of the tape cassette to the cassette holder with an improved accuracy, and to loosen the dimensional accuracy of each of the tape cassette and cassette holder.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a new tape cassette and a newcassette holder, and particularly to a technique capable of ensuring,when a tape cassette is inserted in a cassette holder, the positioningof the tape cassette in the insertion direction with an improvedaccuracy.

[0002] A known tape cassette is loaded in a tape drive apparatus byinserting the tape cassette in a cassette holder provided on the tapedrive apparatus, and turning or sliding the cassette holder, to finishthe loading of the tape cassette to the tape drive apparatus. Such atape cassette is represented by aβ tape cassette, an 8 mm tape cassette,a DAT, a VHS tape cassette, or a DV tape cassette.

[0003] A front lid provided on the above-described tape cassette isopened when a cassette holder, in which the tape cassette has beeninserted at a specific position, is moved (turned or moved up or down)relative to the tape drive apparatus. Accordingly, the positioning ofthe tape cassette to the cassette holder is performed in a state inwhich the front lid is closed.

[0004]FIGS. 20 and 21 show one example of an 8 mm tape cassette “a”having such a front lid.

[0005] In the tape cassette “a”, a tape-like recording medium “c”crosses the front end of a mouth portion “b” from side to side, and afront lid “d” covers the front side of the recording medium “c” while aback lid “e” covers the back side of the recording medium “c” (see FIG.21).

[0006] Right and left end portions of the lower edge of the front lid“d” have horizontally-elongated rectangular cutouts “f”. Right and leftend portions, corresponding to the cutouts “f”, of a lower shell “g”have tongue pieces “h” projecting forward. In a closed state of thefront lid “d”, the tongue pieces “h” are fitted in the cutouts “f”. Atthis time, the front end surfaces of the tongue pieces “h” are nearly atthe same level as that of the surface of the front lid “d” in thehorizontal direction (see FIG. 20). The front end surfaces of thetongues “h” are taken as butting portions “i” for performing thepositioning of the tape cassette “a” to a cassette holder “j” in theinsertion direction (see FIG. 21).

[0007] On the other hand, the cassette holder “j” has receiving portions“k” at positions corresponding to those of the butting portions “i” ofthe tape cassette “a” (see FIG. 22). The receiving portion “k” is formedby bending upward each of right and left end portions of the rear edgeof a receiving plate I for supporting the tape cassette “a” from below.

[0008] With respect to the front and rear sides of the cassette holder“j”, the inlet side on which the tape cassette “a” is initially insertedis taken as the front side, and the depth side is taken as the rearside. To be more specific, the front side of the tape cassette “a”enters the front side of the cassette holder “j”, and accordingly, inthe state that the tape cassette “a” is inserted in the cassette holder“j” the front/rear side of the tape cassette has an inverse relationshipwith the front/rear side of the cassette holder “j”. The same is truefor a tape cassette and a cassette holder to be described later.

[0009] The tape cassette “a” is inserted in the cassette holder “j” in alid closed state of the front lid “d”, and then the butting portions “i”are brought into contact with the receiving portions “k” of the cassetteholder “j”. At this time, the insertion of the tape cassette “a” in thecassette holder “j” is ended and simultaneously the positioning of thetape cassette “a” to the cassette holder “j” is attained.

[0010] In addition, FIGS. 20 and 21 are perspective views, seen from thedirection tilted rightward, upward, the tape cassette “a”, and FIG. 22is a perspective view, seen from the direction tilted leftward, upward.The tape cassette “a” is initially inserted in the front portion of thecassette holder “j” in the direction shown by an arrow D in FIG. 22.

[0011] The cassette holder “j” is then turned with respect to a tapedrive apparatus (not shown), to carry the tape cassette “a” to aspecific loading position in the tape drive apparatus. At this time, thefront lid “d” and the back lid “e” of the tape cassette “a” are opened(see FIG. 21). The cassette loading is thus ended.

[0012] The above-described related art tape cassette “a”, however, has aproblem that when the tape cassette “a” is inserted in the cassetteholder “j”, the butting portions “i” may ride across the receivingportions “k” of the cassette holder “j”. Such a situation makes itimpossible not only to perform the positioning of the tape cassette “a”to the cassette holder “j” but also to perform the loading of the tapecassette “a” in the tape drive apparatus.

[0013] The above problem can be solved by enlarging the receivingportions “k” of the cassette holder “j”; however, if the receivingportions “k” are enlarged, they may interfere with the front lid “d” atthe time of opening the front lid “d”. Accordingly, it is undesirable toenlarge the receiving portions “k”, and rather, it is desirable to makethe receiving portions “k” as small as possible in order to eliminatethe interference of the receiving portions “k” with the front lid “d”.

[0014] It may be considered to enlarge the butting portions “i” of thetape cassette “a”; however, if the butting portions “i” are enlarged,they may interfere with the extraction of the tape-like recording medium“c” at the time of forming the tape path. Accordingly, the buttingportions “i” cannot be enlarged from the practical viewpoint.

[0015] It may be also considered to prevent the front end of the tapecassette “a” inserted in the cassette holder “j” (the rear end of thecassette holder “j”) from being deviated upward by extending the upperplate of the cassette holder “j” toward the rear end portion as much aspossible; however, actually, the upper plate of the cassette holder “j”cannot be extended up to the rear end portion in consideration of thefact that the front lid “d” is turned upward to be opened and a rotarydrum (not shown) moves forward in the mouth portion “b”.

[0016] For these reasons, according to the related art tape cassette“a”, the riding of the butting portions of the tape cassette “a” acrossthe receiving portions of the cassette holder “a” at the time ofinsertion of the tape cassette “a” in the cassette holder “j” cannot beprevented unless the dimensional accuracy of each of the tape cassette“a” and the cassette holder “j” is increased, and further there mayoccur the above-described accident that the cassette loading cannot beperformed due to slight dimensional mismatching between the buttingportions and the receiving portions.

[0017] In particular, such a problem tends to become serious along witha tendency toward miniaturization of tape cassettes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] An object of the present invention is to provide a tape cassetteand a cassette holder, which are capable of ensuring, when the tapecassette is inserted in the cassette holder, the positioning of the tapecassette with an improved accuracy, and loosening the dimensionalaccuracy of each of the tape cassette and the cassette holder.

[0019] To achieve the above object, according to a first aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a tape cassette, which includes amouth portion provided in a front portion of a cassette shell in such amanner as to be opened forward, upward, and downward, part of atape-like recording medium being positioned to cross the front end ofthe mouth portion; and a front lid for covering the front side of thetape-like recording medium, the front lid being opened when the tapecassette is inserted in a cassette holder, and which is loaded in a tapedrive apparatus by a manner of inserting the tape cassette in thecassette holder and then moving the cassette holder relative to achassis of the tape drive apparatus. The tape cassette is characterizedby including a plurality of butting portions to be brought into contactwith the cassette holder when the tape cassette is inserted in thecassette holder, the butting portions being provided on each of theright and left sides of a front end portion of the cassette shell.

[0020] According to a second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a cassette holder for holding a tape cassette inserted therein,which is provided in such a manner as to be movable relative to achassis of a tape drive apparatus for loading the tape cassette at aspecific loading position in the tape drive apparatus. The cassetteholder is characterized by including a plurality of receiving portionsfor receiving the tape cassette in the insertion direction, theplurality of receiving portions being provided on each of the right andleft sides of the cassette holder.

[0021] With the tape cassette and the cassette holder of the presentinvention configured as described above, when the tape cassette isinserted in the cassette holder, the front lid is opened, and thepositioning of the tape cassette to the cassette holder is performed bycontact of the pluralities of butting portions with the pluralities ofreceiving portions, so that it is possible to prevent the tape cassettefrom riding across the receiving portions of the cassette holder, andhence to ensure the positioning of the tape cassette to the cassetteholder with an improved accuracy. Further, if one of the buttingportions fails to be sufficiently brought into contact with thecorresponding one of the receiving portions, the positioning of the tapecassette can be attained by the contact of the other butting portionswith the other receiving portions. As a result, it is possible to loosenthe dimensional accuracy of the butting portions and the receivingportions.

[0022] In the tape cassette of the present invention, preferably, thepluralities of butting portions are covered with the front lid in a lidclosed state of the front lid. With this configuration, in a state inwhich the tape cassette is not loaded in the tape drive apparatus, thebutting portions are not exposed to the outside of the tape cassette. Asa result, since foreign matters do not adhere on the butting portions orthe butting portions are not damaged, it is possible to usually performthe positioning of the tape cassette to the cassette holder with a highaccuracy, and to ensure a good external appearance of the tape cassette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example of a tape cassette usedfor a tape drive apparatus, which includes a cassette holder of thepresent invention, showing a state in which lid are located at closedpositions;

[0024]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tape cassette, showing a statein which lids are located at opened positions;

[0025]FIG. 3 is a perspective view, seen from below, of the tapecassette, showing a state in which the lids are located at the openedpositions;

[0026]FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an upper side portion of acassette shell;

[0027]FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a slider unit;

[0028]FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a tape drive apparatusincluding a cassette holder of the present invention, showing a state inwhich the cassette holder is located at an eject position;

[0029]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the cassette holder;

[0030]FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the tape driveapparatus, showing a state in which the tape cassette is inserted in thecassette holder located at the eject position;

[0031]FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of the tape driveapparatus, showing the state shown in FIG. 7 with parts partial cutaway;

[0032]FIG. 10 is a schematic perspective view of the tape driveapparatus, showing a state in which the cassette holder is moveddownward and a slide chassis is located at an extraction position;

[0033]FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of the tape driveapparatus, showing a state in which the slide chassis is drawn to arecording/reproducing position;

[0034]FIG. 12 is a schematic left side view, with part partiallycutaway, illustrating one step of a process of insertion and removal ofthe tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, in which thetape cassette is started to be inserted in the cassette holder;

[0035]FIG. 13 is a schematic plan view illustrating a state before thetape cassette is inserted in the cassette holder;

[0036]FIG. 14 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating another step of the process of insertion andremoval of the tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, inwhich the locking of the front lid by a lid lock member is released;

[0037]FIG. 15 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating a state subsequent to the state shown in FIG. 14;

[0038]FIG. 16 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating a further step of the process of insertion andremoval of the tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, inwhich the front lid reaches the lid opening position;

[0039]FIG. 17 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating a further step of the process of insertion andremoval of the tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, inwhich the slider is retreated in the state that butting portions come incontact with receiving portions and both the front lid and back lidreach the lid opening positions;

[0040]FIG. 18 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating a further step of the process of insertion andremoval of the tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, inwhich the tape cassette is started to be drawn from the cassette holder;and

[0041]FIG. 19 is a schematic left side view, with parts partiallycutaway, illustrating a further step of the process of insertion andremoval of the tape cassette in and from the tape drive apparatus, inwhich the slider reaches the front limit of the movement range;

[0042]FIG. 20 is a perspective view of a related art tape cassette,showing a lid closed state;

[0043]FIG. 21 is a perspective view of the related art tape cassette,showing a lid opened state; and

[0044]FIG. 22 is a perspective view showing a related art cassetteholder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0045] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of a tape cassette and acassette holder according to the present invention will be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0046] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 5, a tape cassette according to thepresent invention will be first described.

[0047] Referring to FIG. 1, a tape cassette 10 includes a thin-boxshaped cassette shell 20 in which tape reels 40 and 50 are rotatablycontained. A magnetic tape 30 representative of a tape-like recordingmedium is wound around the tape reels 40 and 50. The tape cassette 10also includes a front lid 60 for covering the front surface side of themagnetic tape 30 positioned along the front surface of the cassetteshell 20, and a back lid 70 for covering the back surface side of themagnetic tape 30. A slider 80 is supported on the cassette shell 20 insuch a manner as to be movable forward and backward. The back lid 70 isformed integrally with the slider 80, and the front lid 60 is turnablysupported by the slider 80.

[0048] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the thin-box shaped cassette shell 20is made from a plastic material. A front portion of the cassette shell20 has a large recess 21 (hereinafter, referred to as “mouth portion21”). The mouth portion 21 is opened forward, upward, and downward.

[0049] Referring to FIG. 2, a tape extraction portion 22 formed into alying square cylinder is provided on each of both sides of the mouthportion 21 of the cassette shell 20. A front end 22 a of the tapeextraction portion 22 is opened. The magnetic tape 30 is extractedoutside from the openings 22 a of both the tape extraction portions 22,and is stretched between the openings 22 a in such a manner as to crossthe front surface of the mouth portion 21.

[0050] Each tape extraction portion 22 has, at a nearly upper half ofthe outer side front end surface, a cam portion 23 formed into acircular-arc surface shape projecting forward. The tape extractionportion 22 also has, at a nearly lower half 22 b of the outer side frontend surface and an upper side front end surface 22 c, butting portionsfor positioning, when the tape cassette is inserted in a cassetteholder, the tape cassette to the cassette holder in the insertiondirection (more fully described later). In addition, the butting portionlocated at the lower half of the outer side front end surface is takenas a side butting portion 22 b, and the butting portion located at theupper side front end surface is taken as an upper butting portion 22 c.

[0051] When the front lid 60 covers the tape extraction portions 22 andthe mouth portion 21, the side butting portions 22 b and the upperbutting portions 22 c are located inside the front lid 60. In otherwords, in the closed state of the front lid 60, the butting portions 22b and 22 c are not exposed to the outside of the tape cassette, tothereby eliminate occurrence of an inconvenience that foreign mattersadhere on the butting portions 22 b and 22 c or the butting portions 22b and 22 c are damaged. As a result, it is possible to perform accuratepositioning of the tape cassette to the cassette holder by the contactof the butting portions 22 b and 22 c with the corresponding members ofthe cassette holder.

[0052] In the case of the above-described related art tape cassettedesigned such that the butting portions are exposed, foreign matters mayadhere on the butting portions or the butting portions may be deformedby falling. If such a tape cassette is inserted in a cassette holder,the positioning of the tape cassette to the cassette holder in theinsertion direction cannot be accurately performed because of inaccuratecontact of the butting portions with the corresponding members of thecassette holder, and accordingly, the tape cassette may be often notloaded in a tape drive apparatus. Such a problem has become seriousalong with the tendency toward miniaturization of tape cassettes andtape drive apparatuses. According to this embodiment, this problem canbe solved by the configuration that the butting portions 22 b and 22 care covered with the front lid 60.

[0053] Referring to FIG. 3, the bottom plate of the cassette shell 20has two reel base through-holes 24. When the tape cassette 10 is loadedin the tape drive apparatus, two reel bases provided on the tape driveapparatus are inserted in the cassette shell 20 while passing throughthe reel base through-holes 24, and engagement shafts provided on thereel bases are engaged in reel base engagement holes 40 a and 50 aopened in the bottom surfaces of the tape reels 40 and 50.

[0054] An upper surface portion 25 of the cassette shell 20 has, at aposition slightly offset forward from the center in the direction fromfront to rear, a window 26 longer from side to side (see FIG. 1). Thewindow 26 is adapted to check the winding state of the magnetic tape 30wound around the tape reels 40 and 50 in the cassette shell 20. In thisembodiment, the window 26 is formed of a transparent plastic; however, awindow 26 prepared separately may be fitted in the corresponding portionof the cassette shell 20, or a window 26 may be formed integrally withthe cassette shell 20 by a so-called two-color molding (see FIG. 4).

[0055] Three projecting ribs 27 are formed on right and left sideportions and a central portion of the upper surface portion 25 in such amanner as to slightly project upward from the upper surface portion 25.The right and left projecting ribs 27 are apart from the window 26,whereas the central projecting rib 27 cross the window 26 (see FIG. 4).The slider 80 is slidably moved on the projecting ribs 27.

[0056] Additionally, three pieces of the projecting ribs 27 are providedin this embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited. Forexample, only the right and left projecting ribs 27 may be provided.Further, the cross-sectional shape of the projecting rib 27 may be asquare shape or a round shape. That is to say, the projecting rib 27 maybe formed into any shape in cross-section insofar as it slightlyprojects upward from the upper surface portion 25. Further, theprojecting rib 27 may be replaced with at least two or more projectionsspaced from each other at suitable intervals. In summary, the projectingrib 27 or its equivalent may be formed such that the slider 80 slidesthereon with a suitable gap kept between the slider 80 and the uppersurface portion 25, particularly, the window 26 of the cassette shell20.

[0057] The slider 80 is formed of a plate made from a high conductivitymaterial having a relatively high hardness, for example, a stainlesssteel plate. Referring to FIG. 5, the slider 80 is a one-body which hasan upper surface portion 81 formed into a plate-shape longer from sideto side, and side surface portions formed integrally with the right andleft side edges of the upper surface portion 81 in such a manner as toproject downward therefrom. Each side surface portion includes aprincipal surface portion 82 extending from a portion, slightly offsetforward from the center in the direction from front to rear, to the rearend, and a lid supporting portion 83 positioned in front of theprincipal surface portion 82.

[0058] The lid supporting portion 83 is positioned slightly inside theprincipal surface portion 82. The width in the vertical direction of thelid supporting portion 83 is nearly half that of the principal surfaceportion 82. The lid supporting portion 83 has an approximatelysemi-circular shaft holding portion 83 a opened downward. The back lid70 is bent from the front edge of the upper surface portion 81 in such amanner as to extend downward therefrom at a right angle (see FIG. 5).

[0059] In a state in which both the front lid 60 and the back lid 70 areclosed (the state shown in FIG. 1), as described above, the magnetictape 30 is present in a space formed between both the lids 60 and 70 insuch a manner as not to be brought into contact therewith but to be inproximity thereto. Also since the back lid 70 is formed integrally withthe slider 80 by the high conductivity stainless steel plate, the backlid 70 is less electrically charged, and therefore, it does not attractthe magnetic tape 30 by electrostatic charges. As a result, there doesnot occur the so-called tape jamming at the time of cassette loading ortape loading. Further, as will be described later, since the slider 80is pressed down by a cassette pressing spring made from a highconductivity material, electric charges can be effectively grounded fromthe back lid 70 positioned in the vicinity of the magnetic tape 30 to amain chassis of the tape drive apparatus.

[0060] Referring to FIG. 5, the front lid 60 is a one-body which has afront surface portion 61 formed into a stripe-shape longer nearly fromside to side, and two side surface portions 62 formed integrally withthe right and left edges of the front surface portion 61 in such amanner as to project rearward therefrom. An upper end portion of thefront surface portion 61 is gently curved to be displaced rearward asnearing the upper end.

[0061] Referring to FIG. 5, a thick wall portion 63 is formed on aninner surface portion, joined to the front surface portion 61, of eachside surface portion 62. The thick portion 63 has a restriction surface64 formed into a circular-arc shape in a side view. Pivots 65 and 66project from approximately central portions, facing to the restrictionsurfaces 64, of the inner surfaces of the left and right side surfaceportions 62. That is to say, the restriction surfaces 64 are formed intothe circular arc-shapes centered at the pivots 65 and 66.

[0062] A lower end portion of the inner surface of the left side surfaceportion 62 has a recess 62 a opened downward (see FIG. 5).

[0063] A supporting shaft 67 projects from a portion, offset rearward,downward from the pivot 65, of the inner surface of the left sidesurface portion 62 (see FIG. 5).

[0064] A portion, near the lower end, of each of both ends of the frontsurface portion 61 has an engagement recess 61 a opened forward,sideward, and a portion, near the left end, of the lower edge of thefront surface portion 61 has a through-cutout 61 b (see FIG. 5).

[0065] The pivots 65 and 66 of the side surface portions 62 of the frontlid 60 are turnably engaged in the shaft holding portions 83 a of theslider 80, whereby the front lid 60 is turnably supported by the lidsupporting portions 83 at the front end portion of the slider 80 (seeFIG. 12).

[0066] Referring to FIG. 12, a lid lock member 90 is mounted to theinner side of the left side surface portion 62 of the front lid 60. Thelid lock member 90 is elongated as a whole, and has at its centralportion a supporting hole 91. The supporting shaft 67 formed on the leftside surface portion 62 of the front lid 60 is inserted in thesupporting hole 91, whereby the lid lock member 90 is turnably supportedon the inner surface side of the side surface portion 62.

[0067] Referring to FIG. 12, a lock claw 92 is formed on an upper endportion of the lid lock member 90. When the lid lock member 90 is insuch a posture as to be tilted rightward, downward as seen from the leftside, the lock claw 92 projects nearly forward to lock, from rear, theupper surface of a sliding projection 83 b formed on the left lidsupporting portion 83 of the slider 80. The lid lock member 90 has aspring catch surface 93. The spring catch surface 93 is formed bycutting out a surface portion which is located on the side opposed tothe side facing to the side surface portion 62 at a position between thesupporting hole 91 and the lower end of the lid lock member 90. A frontportion 94 of the lower end surface of the lid lock member 90 is takenas a circular-arc surface. The lid lock member 90 also has a lock pin 95projecting from a portion which is located on the left side facing tothe left side surface portion 62 of the front lid 60 at a position nearthe lower end. When the lid lock member 90 is mounted to the inner sideof the left side surface portion 62 of the front lid 60, as shown inFIG. 12, the lock pin 95 is positioned in the recess 62 a formed in theleft side surface portion 62 of the front lid 60.

[0068] A torsion coil spring 100 is provided on the lid lock member 90so as to bias both the front lid 60 and the lid lock member 90 inspecific directions (see FIGS. 5 and 12).

[0069] The torsion coil spring 100 has a coil portion 101, and two armpieces 102 and 103. The coil portion 101 is fitted around the pivot 65formed on the left side surface portion 62 of the front lid 60. The armpiece 102 is brought into elastic contact, from front, with the uppersurface of the sliding projection 83 b formed on the left lid supportingportion 83 of the slider 80, and the arm piece 103 is brought intoelastic contact with the spring catch surface 93 of the lid lock member90 (see FIG. 12). Accordingly, the lid lock member 90 is biasedclockwise as seen from the left side, and the front lid 60 is biased,via the lid lock member 90 and the supporting shaft 67, clockwise asseen from the left side, that is, in the direction in which the frontsurface portion 61 of the front lid 60 closes the front side of themouth portion 21 (see FIG. 12).

[0070] In this way, the lid lock member 90 locks the opening of thefront lid 60, and further, it presses the front lid 60 and the slider 80by the force of the torsion coil spring 100, to thereby absorb thelooseness between the front lid 60 and the slider 80.

[0071] A tape drive apparatus 110 includes a main chassis 120, a slidechassis 130, a movable frame 140, and a cassette holder 150 (see FIG.6).

[0072] Referring to FIG. 6, the main chassis 120 has principalmechanisms for extracting the magnetic tape 30 from the cassette shell20, forming a specific tape path, and running the magnetic tape 30, forexample, two tape extraction guides 122, a pinch roller (not shown), andthe like. As will be described later, the tape extraction guides 122,the pinch roller, and the like are rotatably supported on supportingboards Knot shown), and the supporting boards are movably supported onthe main chassis 120.

[0073] Referring to FIG. 6, the slide chassis 130 is positioned in frontof the main chassis 120, and is supported on the main chassis 120 insuch a manner as to be movable forward or rearward. The tape cassette 10is to be loaded in the slide chassis 130. Two reel bases 131 to beengaged with the tape reels 40 and 50 for rotation, and the like areprovided on the slide chassis 130.

[0074] With respect to the front and rear sides of the tape driveapparatus 110, as described above, the inlet side on which the tapecassette 10 is started to be inserted is taken as the front side, andthe depth side is taken as the rear side. Accordingly, when the tapecassette 10 is loaded in the tape drive apparatus 110, the front/rearside of the tape cassette has an inverse relationship with thefront/rear side of the tape drive apparatus 110. That is to say, whenthe tape cassette 10 is loaded in the tape drive apparatus 110, thefront side of the tape cassette 10 is located on the rear side (depthside) of the tape drive apparatus 110 and the rear side of the tapecassette 10 is located on the front side (inlet side) of the tape driveapparatus 110.

[0075] Referring to FIG. 6; the movable frame 140 includes an uppersurface portion 141 formed into an approximately square-shape, and sidesurface plates 142 projecting downward from right and left side edges ofthe upper surface portion 141. Rear end portions of the side surfaceportions 142 are turnably supported on a rear end portion of the mainchassis 120. The movable frame 140 is biased upwardly by a torsion coilspring 143. Each side surface portion 142 has a guide slit 142 aextending from front to rear.

[0076] Referring to FIG. 7, the cassette holder 150 includes two sidesurface plates 151. Nearly front half portions of the upper ends of theside surface plates 151 are connected to each other by a front sideupper surface plate 152, and rear end portions of the side surfaceplates 151 are connected to each other by a rear end upper surface plate153. The cassette holder 150 is formed of a plate made from a highconductivity material (good conductor), for example, a steel plate.

[0077] Referring to FIG. 13, a lid pressing piece 154 projecting upwardis formed at a central portion of the rear edge of the front side upperplate 152. Two receiving plates 155 project inwardly from the fronthalves of lower edges of the side surface plates 151 in such a manner asto come close to each other. These receiving plates 155 extend from anapproximately central portion in the direction from front to rear to thefront side of the cassette holder 150, and accordingly, the receivingplates 155 are not present at the depth portion (rear end portion) ofthe cassette holder 150.

[0078] A lock releasing cam 156 is formed at the inner edge of the leftreceiving plate 155 by partially cutting a line which surrounds aportion forming the cam 156, and bending the portion upward. The lockreleasing cam 156 is provided at a position corresponding to a positionat which a lid opener (which will be described later) is disposed. Theedge, on the side on which the tape cassette 10 is inserted, that is,the upper edge of a front end portion of the lock releasing cam 156 istilted downward as nearing the front end, to form a tilt edge 157 (seeFIG. 12). The width in the direction from side to side of the lockreleasing cam 156, which is formed by bending a portion of the plateforming the receiving plate 155, that is, the thickness of the plateforming the lock releasing cam 156 is set to be smaller than the widthof the through-cutout 61 b formed in the front surface portion 61 of thefront lid 60.

[0079] A central portion of the rear edge of the rear end upper surfaceplate 153 has an opening portion 153 a opened rearward. Two upperreceiving pieces 158 are provided at the inner edges, opposed to eachother, of a rear end portion of the opening portions 153 a. To be morespecific, each upper receiving piece 158 is formed by partially cuttinga line which surrounds a portion forming the upper receiving piece 158and bending the portion downward. The upper receiving pieces 158 havefront edges 158 a (hereinafter, referred to as “upper receivingportions”). The upper receiving portions 158 a are located at positionswhich correspond to the above-described butting portions 22 c of thetape cassette 10 in a state in which the front lid 60 is opened toexpose the openings 22 a of the tape extraction portions 22.

[0080] The rear end portion of each side surface plate 151 has, at aposition higher than that of the receiving plate 155, a side receivingpiece 159 which is bent inward (see FIG. 7).

[0081] The side receiving piece 159 has, at a rear end portion, a sidereceiving portion 159 a which is directed forward. The side receivingpiece 159 also has a tilt edge (hereinafter, referred to as “lead-inedge”) 159 b extending forward, outward from the side receiving portion159 a. The side receiving portions 159 a are located at positionscorresponding to those of the side butting portions 22 b of the tapeextraction portions 22 of the tape cassette 10.

[0082] As will be described above, when the tape cassette 10 is insertedin the cassette holder 150, the butting portions 22 b and 22 c arebrought into contact with the above-described receiving portions 158aand 159 a, to thereby perform the positioning of the tape cassette 10 inthe insertion direction (see FIG. 13).

[0083] Referring to FIG. 13, two cassette pressing springs 160 aremounted on the right and left ends of a front end portion of the frontside upper surface portion 152 in such a manner as to extend rearward,obliquely downward. The cassette pressing springs 160 are adapted forpressing downward the tape cassette 10 inserted in the cassette holder150. Each cassette pressing spring 160 is formed of a plate made from aspring material having a high conductivity.

[0084] The cassette pressing springs 160 are located at positionscorresponding to those of the projecting ribs 27 formed at the right andleft ends of the upper surface portion 25 of the tape cassette 10inserted in the cassette holder 150 (see FIG. 13).

[0085] With this configuration, when the tape cassette 10 is inserted inthe cassette holder 150, the cassette pressing springs 160 are slidrelative to the upper surface of the slider 80, and accordingly, thecassette pressing springs 160 press the right and left projecting ribs27 via the slider 80, whereby the gap between the slider 80 and theupper surface portion 25 of the cassette shell 20 can be kept.

[0086] Since the slider 80 of the tape cassette 10 is formed of astainless steel plate having a high conductivity as described above andalso the cassette pressing springs 160 made from a good conductor isbrought into contact with the slider 80, electric charges of thecassette shell 20 can be effectively eliminated, that is, effectivelygrounded to the main chassis 120 via the cassette pressing springs 160and the cassette holder 150. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent thetape cassette 10 from being electrically charged, and hence toeliminate, at the time of cassette loading or tape loading, theinconvenience that the magnetic tape 30 is stuck on the front lid 60 orthe back lid 70 and thereby prevent occurrence of tape jamming.

[0087] Contact portions 160 a, to be brought into contact with the tapecassette 10, of the cassette pressing springs 160 correspond to thereceiving plates 155 in the direction from front to rear, that is, inthe insertion direction of the tape cassette 10, and accordingly, whenthe tape cassette 10 is inserted in the cassette holder 150, it is heldbetween the cassette pressing springs 160 and the receiving plates 155(see FIG. 17) With this configuration, it is possible to stably hold thetape cassette 10 at the depth portion (rear end portion) of the cassetteholder 150 without provision of any special holding member.

[0088] The cassette holder 150 is supported on the movable frame 140 insuch a manner as to be movable forward and rearward. In addition, twosliding pins 165 as part of members for supporting the cassette holder150 on the movable frame 140 project from the side surface plates 151 ofthe cassette holder 150. The sliding pins 165 are slidably fitted in theguide slits 142 a of the movable frame 140 (see FIG. 6).

[0089] Two turning links 170 are provided for connecting the cassetteholder 150 to the slide chassis 130. One-ends of the turning links 170are turnably connected to portions, projecting from the lower edges ofthe side surface portions 142 of the movable frame 140, of the sidesurface plates 151 of the cassette holder 150. The other ends of theturning links 170 are turnably supported by a front surface plate 132mounted on a front end portion of the slide chassis 130.

[0090] Two lid openers 180 as means for moving the front lid 60 and theback lid 70 to lid opening positions are provided on the cassette holder150.

[0091] Each of the lid openers 180 is formed into a long arm shape. Anupper end portion of the lid opener 180 is turnably supported on anupper end portion of the inner surface of each side surface plate 151 ofthe cassette holder 150. An engagement projection 181 projects from theinner surface of a turning end portion of the lid opener 180. A torsioncoil spring 190 having a coil portion 191 and arms 192 and 193 isprovided on each lid opener 180. The coil portion 191 is fitted around aturning shaft 182 of the lid opener 180. The arm 192 is brought intocontact, from above, with a spring catch piece 151 a formed on each sidesurface plate 151 of the cassette holder 150. To be more specific, thearm 192 is formed by partially cutting a line which surrounds a portionforming the arm 192, and raising the portion inward. The arm 193 isbrought into contact with a portion, near a turning fulcrum, of thefront edge of the lid opener 180. As a result, each lid opener 180 isbiased by the torsion coil spring 190 clockwise as seen from the leftside in FIG. 12. Since the arm 192 located near the upper end of the lidopener 180 is in contact with the spring catch piece 151 a, the lidopener 180 is held in an upright posture in which the turning end islocated at the lower end.

[0092] The loading of the tape cassette 10 in the tape drive apparatus110 will be described below.

[0093] First, in a state in which the slide chassis 130 is located at anextraction position, the movable frame 140 is turned upward to move thecassette holder 150 to an eject position shown in FIG. 6. In such astate, the tape cassette 10 is in inserted into the cassette holder 150in the direction A in FIG. 12 with the front lid 60 side directedforward. Along with the insertion of the tape cassette 10, the lockreleasing cam 156 is relatively inserted in the front lid 60 through thethrough-cutout 61 b formed in the front side surface 61 of the front lid60 (see FIG. 12).

[0094] At the same time, the cassette pressing springs 160 are, in thecassette holder 150, relatively pressed by the front end, that is, thefront lid 60 of the tape cassette 10 to be deflected upward, to ride onthe upper surface portion 25 of the cassette shell 20, whereby thecassette pressing springs 160 press the tape cassette 10 downward. Thetape cassette 10 is thus held between the cassette pressing springs 160and the receiving plates 155.

[0095] In this case, since the contact portions 160 a of the cassettepressing springs 160 are in contact with the slider 80 of the tapecassette 10, it is possible to ground electric charges of the tapecassette 10 to the main chassis 120 via the cassette holder 150, themovable frame 140, and the slide chassis 130, and hence to prevent thetape cassette 10 from being electrically charged.

[0096] The engagement projections 181 of the lid openers 180 are engagedin the engagement recesses 61 a of the front lid 60. Further, thecircular-arc surface 94 at the lower end of the lid lock member 90slides up on the tilt edge 157 of the lock releasing cam 156, wherebythe lid lock member 90 is turned counterclockwise in FIG. 14 to releasethe engagement of the lock claw 92 with the sliding projection 83 b ofthe slider 80. As a result, the locking of the front lid 60 at theclosing position is released (see FIG. 14).

[0097] As the tape cassette 10 is further inserted in the cassetteholder 150, that is, further moved in the direction A in FIG. 14, theengagement projections 181 provided at the turning ends of the lidopeners 180 are pressed in the direction A, with a result that the lidopeners 180 are turned counterclockwise, that is, in the direction B inFIG. 13. Since the engagement projections 181 of the lid openers 180 areengaged in the engagement recesses 61 a of the front lid 60, the frontlid 60 is turned counterclockwise, that is, in the direction B alongwith the upward movement of the engagement projections 181 of the lidopeners 180 (see FIG. 15).

[0098] In addition, the slider 80 receives, via the front lid 60, aforce for moving the slider 80 rearward relative to the cassette shell20 by the engagement projections 181 of the lid openers 180; however,since the restriction surfaces 64 of the front lid 60 are in contactwith the cam portions 23 of the cassette shell 20, the slider 80 cannotbe moved rearward relative to the cassette shell 20 and thereby only thefront lid 60 is turned upward (see FIGS. 14 and 15).

[0099] In each of the states shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, the lock pin 95of the lid lock member 90 is in contact with the rear side inner sidesurface of the recess 62 a formed in the left side surface portion 62 ofthe front lid 60, and as the front lid 60 is further turned from such astate in the direction B, the lock pin 95 is drawn in the direction B bythe rear side inner side surface of the recess 62 a, whereby the lidlock member 90 is also turned in the direction B.

[0100] When the front lid 60 is turned, from the initial state (lidopening state shown in FIG. 123, at about 90° in the direction B, theengagement between the restriction surfaces 64 of the front lid 60 andthe cam portions 23 of the cassette shell 20 is released (see FIG. 16),whereby the slider 80 becomes movable rearward relative to the cassetteshell 20, to open the front lid 60. Further, in the state shown in FIG.16, the lid pressing piece 154 formed on the front side upper surfaceplate 152 of the cassette holder 150 is close, from rear, to the upperend of the front surface portion 61 of the front lid 60.

[0101] As the tape cassette 10 is further moved, from the state shown inFIG. 16, to the depth of the cassette holder 150, that is, in thedirection A, since the engagement projections 181 of the lid openers 180are engaged in the engagement recesses 61 a of the front lid 60, thefront lid 60 and the slider 80 on which the front lid 60 is supportedcannot be moved in the direction A to be left as they are, with a resultthat the slider 80 is moved, together with the front lid 60, rearwardrelative to the cassette shell 20 (see FIG. 17). At this time, the backlid 70 is of course moved rearward relative to the cassette shell 20,whereby the back lid 70 is separated rearward from the magnetic tape 30,to be thus opened.

[0102] The slider 80 is moved (slid) rearward on the projecting ribs 27formed on the upper surface 25 of the cassette shell 20 in such a mannerthat a suitable gap is kept between the lower surface of the slider 80and the window 26 formed on the upper surface portion 25 of the cassetteshell 20. As a result, the window 26 is prevented from being damaged dueto rubbing by the slider 80 when the slider 80 is moved forward andrearward.

[0103] Since the contact portions 160 a of the cassette pressing springs160 press the portions corresponding to the right and left projectingribs 27 of the cassette shell 20, the slider 80 is not deformed. As aresult, it is possible to stabilize the sliding motion of the slider 80on the cassette shell 20.

[0104] At the time of insertion of the tape cassette 10 in the cassetteholder 150, the side butting portions 22 b of the tape extractionportions 22 of the tape cassette 10 are guided by the lead-in edges 159b of the side receiving pieces 159 of the cassette holder 150, wherebythe positioning of the tape cassette 10 to the cassette holder 150 inthe direction from side to side can be achieved. Subsequently, the sidebutting portions 22 b and the upper butting portions 22 c are broughtinto contact with the side receiving portions 159 a of the sidereceiving pieces 159 and the upper receiving portions 158 a of the upperreceiving pieces 158. At this time, the insertion of the tape cassette10 in the cassette holder 150 is ended (see FIG. 17).

[0105] Since the positioning of the tape cassette 10 to the cassetteholder 150 in the insertion direction can be performed at the fourportions, that is, at the two upper portions and the two side portions,it is possible to ensure the positioning of the tape cassette 10 and tomake the size of each of the butting portions 22 b and 22 c and thereceiving portions 158 a and 159 a relatively small (see FIG. 2).

[0106] In addition, since the front lid 60 is brought into elasticcontact with the upper surface of the cassette shell 20, the elasticforce of the torsion coil spring 190 does not act to float the cassetteshell 20 from the cassette holder 150. That is to say, the elastic forceof the torsion coil spring 190 only acts to bring the front lid 60 intoelastic contact with the upper surface of the cassette shell 20 (seeFIG. 17).

[0107] After the tape cassette 10 is inserted in the cassette holder 150up to the insertion end position, the movable frame 140 is turneddownward, and the cassette holder 150 is moved downward along with thedownward turning of the movable frame 140. When the cassette holder 150is moved downward to the lower limit of a downward movement range (seeFIG. 10), the reel bases 131 provided on the slide chassis 130 areinserted in the cassette shell 20 through the reel base through-holes24, and reel engagement shafts 131 a of the reel bases 131 are engagedin the reel base engagement holes 40 a and 50 a of the tape reels 40 and50. The tape extraction guides 122, the pinch roller (not shown), andthe like provided on the main chassis 120 are then located in the mouthportion 21.

[0108] The slide chassis 130 is then moved to the depth of the mainchassis 120, to reach a specific extraction position (see FIG. 11).

[0109] After the slide chassis 130 reaches the specific extractionposition, the tape extraction guides 122, the pinch roller, and the likeare moved to specific positions, to extract the magnetic tape 30 fromthe cassette shell 20, wind the magnetic tape 30 around a rotary headdrum 121 at a specific winding angle, and form a specific tape path.

[0110] After the recording or reproducing on or from the magnetic tape30 is ended, the tape extraction guides 122, the pinch roller, and thelike are moved in the mouth portion 21, and an excessive portion of themagnetic tape 30 is wound around one tape reel 40.

[0111] After that, the slide chassis 130 is returned up to theabove-described extraction position, and the movable frame 140 is turnedupward to locate the cassette holder 150 at the eject position (see FIG.8).

[0112] In this state, a portion, projecting from the front end of thecassette holder 150, of the tape cassette 10 can be pulled out of thecassette holder 150 by an operator. The tape cassette 10 is thus movedin the eject direction, that is, the direction C (see FIG. 18).

[0113] When the tape cassette 10 is moved in the direction C, the lidpressing piece 154 provided at the central portion of the front sideupper surface plate 152 of the cassette holder 150 relatively presses acentral portion of an upper end portion of the front surface portion 61of the front lid 60 in the direction reversed to the direction C,whereby the front lid 60 and the slider 80 (with which the back lid 70is integrated) are moved to the front end of the cassette shell 20. Atthis time, since the central portion of the upper end of the frontsurface portion 61 of the front lid 60, a movement force is given with agood balance kept on the right and left sides.

[0114] When the slider 80 reaches the front limit of the movement range(see FIG. 19), since the lower end portions of the thick portions 63 ofthe front lid 60 are removed from the upper surface of the cassetteshell 20, the front lid 60 becomes turnable downward. The front lid 60is turned downward by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 100applied thereto via the 4id lock member 90; to reach the lid closingposition, thereby covering the magnetic tape 30 in cooperation with theback lid 70 being moved forward. The lock claw 92 of the lid lock member90 then locks the upper surface of the sliding projection 83 b of theslider 80. After that, the tape cassette 10 is removed from the cassetteholder 150.

[0115] In the above-described embodiment, the side butting portions 22 band the upper butting portions 22 c of the opening edges of the tapeextraction portions 22 of the cassette tape 20 are brought into contactwith the side receiving portions 159 a and the upper receiving portions158 a, respectively; however, the present invention is not limitedthereto. For example, a plurality of butting portions may be provided oneach of upper and lower portions or each of side and upper portions onthe cassette shell 20 side, and similarly, a plurality of receivingportions may be provided on each of upper and lower portions or each ofside and upper portions on the cassette holder 150 side.

[0116] While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has beendescribed using specific terms, such description is for illustrativepurposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variationsmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the followingclaim.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tape cassette, which includes a mouth portionprovided in a front portion of a cassette shell in such a manner as tobe opened forward, upward, and downward, part of a tape-like recordingmedium being positioned to cross the front end of the mouth portion; anda front lid for covering the front side of the tape-like recordingmedium, the front lid being opened when the tape cassette is inserted ina cassette holder, and which is loaded in a tape drive apparatus by amanner of inserting said tape cassette in said cassette holder and thenmoving said cassette holder relative to a chassis of said tape driveapparatus, comprising: a plurality of butting portions to be broughtinto contact with said cassette holder when said tape cassette isinserted in said cassette holder, said butting portions being providedon each of the right and left sides of a front end portion of saidcassette shell.
 2. A tape cassette according to claim 1, wherein saidpluralities of butting portions are covered with said front lid in a lidclosed state of said front lid.
 3. A cassette holder for holding a tapecassette inserted therein, which is provided in such a manner as to bemovable relative to a chassis of a tape drive apparatus for loading saidtape cassette at a specific loading position in said tape driveapparatus, comprising: a plurality of receiving portions for receivingsaid tape cassette in the insertion direction, said plurality ofreceiving portions being provided on each of the right and left sides ofsaid cassette holder.